aquaculture_2.html  

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Tasmania's Shellfish Quality Assurance Program (conducted by the State Government) ensures that the Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) produced by Tasmanian growers in the states outstanding growing environment are of the very highest quality. These oysters begin life in specifically designed hatcheries that produce "single seed" oysters, growing out on leases located in estuarine waters.



Tasmanian Pacific oysters are in demand worldwide and are exported live once harvested. They have significant nutritional value.

A total area of nearly 1500 hectares around Tasmania is used for the cultivation of Pacific oysters with these leases producing around 2.6 million dozen oysters annually.

This industry is currently generating an income in excess of AUD$20 million.




Equipment used in the growing and harvesting of Pacific oysters has been developed by Tasmanian industry. Machines to efficiently grade the oysters are manufactured in Tasmania.





Links:
Shellfish Culture Ltd
Tasmanian Oyster Company

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.Other Aquaculture in Tasmania:


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• Sea-raised Ocean (Rainbow) Trout:
  
  
  Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) has been in Tasmania since the time of the early settlers, being introduced as a sport and table fish in the 1900's.

  Around 400 tonnes is produced annually in Tasmania's marine environment.

  
  Link: www.petuna.com

• .Blue Mussels:
  The Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis planuatus) production has improved significantly due to improvements and development of techniques and the understanding of the biology of the mussel.

  These Tasmanian Blue mussels are in demand because of their high quality, with production in excess of 500 tonnes per annum.

  
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• Abalone:
  
  Tasmanian hatcheries now produce seed (in commercial quantities) of both blacklip (Haliotis rubra) and greenlip (Haliotis laevigata) abalone. Systems and techniques for growing out the abalone have been developed and adapted from overseas examples, with there now being a number of facilities for abalone grow-out now in operation in Tasmania. These are both land and sea based.

  The industry has progressed through the primary development phases and commercial quantities of farm grown abalone are now being marketed.

  
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• Scallops:
  
  Tasmanian and Australian mainland sea stocks of scallops are subject to annual variations in abundance, with wild harvesting of the resource being seriously reduced in some seasons.

  A technique known as "ear hanging" cultivation is used in Japan, with Japanese and Tasmanian State Government input attempting to bring new breath into the industry using this technique. Hatchery production of scallops is now becoming a reality and will enhance production in this sector of the fishing industry in the near future.

  
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• Sea Horses:
  
  One would tend to overlook the humble seahorse when considering aquaculture, as oysters and Atlantic salmon tend to be the highlights of the industry. It is interesting to note that Tasmania has developed the world's first commercial seahorse farm, cultivating these charismatic little creatures both for the aquarium trade and the Asian traditional medicine industry.

  The industry is based on the big-bellied seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalus) which is one of the worlds larger species.

  
  Link: Seahorse Aquaculture

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